DVD Shopping Bag


DVD Shopping Bag: One Disc, Two Disc, Blue Disc?

By: Robert T. Trate
Date: Tuesday, July 08, 2008

This week Warner Home Entertainment will release their DVD movie tie-in Batman - Gotham Knight. We have three different versions to choose from, unlike Justice League: A New Frontier which had four (R.I.P. HD-DVD), so which will it be? Times are tough all over and I don’t know about you but I look at everything in how much gas I can buy with it. Batman - Gotham Knight (Single-Disc Edition) retails for $12.99 on Amazon, almost 3 gallons of gas. Batman - Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) retails for 20.99 on Amazon, equating to almost 5 gallons of gas. Batman - Gotham Knight [Blu-ray] retails for 21.95, equating to well, you know.
 
Last time around when Warner Home Entertainment released Justice League: A New Frontier I picked up the single disc version and thoroughly enjoyed the film. I wanted the 2-Disc version but the wallet wasn’t going to allow it that week. Now with Batman - Gotham Knight I am torn between what I want and what I can afford again. How often will I really watch the second disc full of special features? The second disc for Batman - Gotham Knight packs four episodes of the Batman Animated Series picked by producer Bruce Timm, which is pretty cool but if I have the animated series or most of it already I probably have them. The two documentaries Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story and A Mirror for the Bat: Exploring the Evil Denizens of Gotham City both look and sound great but, is spending nine extra dollars really worth something I could include on my Netflix rental?
 
The Blue-Ray Disc is reasonable and worth the pixels per inch yet, I don’t have the money to spend on a Blu-ray player and an HD TV. Buying these items seems silly because I can watch the same thing on my big TV and standard DVD player. I know, I heard once you watch Blu-Ray you can’t go back but if I bought all the new technology to watch these movies in the best possible quality (to date) I could finish paying off my car. 
 
Where does it end? The single disc of Batman - Gotham Knight is enough. It includes what is really important and the true value for your money in these tough economic times, all six interlocking stories that bridge the gap between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. I guess times will be tougher when the studios figure out to split the episodes on these cartoon movie tie-ins on two discs so we have to spend more to get them all. 
 
ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS
 
Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set) [Blu-ray]
-Blu-Ray high-def exclusive content: The Dark Knight Prologue
-32-page booklet including all-new DC Comics comic book of The Dark Knight
-Exclusive photos
-Script pages and story boards.
-Five Batman Begins collectible postcards
-Movie cash for The Dark Knight
 
Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set)
-Includes 128MB Batman branded flash drive including 18 images from The Dark Knight
-Five Batman Begins collectible postcards
-Movie cash for The Dark Knight
 
Batman Begins [Blu-ray]
 
Bat Without Wings
 
Blood Brothers
 
Dungeon Girl
 
Haunting of Marsten Manor, The
 
Impact Point
 
Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director´s Cut)
 
Key, The
 
The Mummy (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)
-VISUAL AND SPECIAL EFFECTS FORMATION
-AN ARMY TO RULE THE WORLD
-DELETED SCENES
-BUILDING A BETTER MUMMY
-THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR SNEAK PEEK
-FEATURE COMMENTARIES
-UNRAVELING THE LEGACY OF THE MUMMY
-STORYBOARD TO FINAL FILM COMPARISON
 
The Mummy Returns (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)
-VISUAL AND SPECIAL EFFECTS FORMATION
-AN ARMY TO RULE THE WORLD PART 2
-THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR SNEAK PEEK
-FEATURE COMMENTARIES
-UNRAVELING THE LEGACY OF THE MUMMY
-AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH DWAYNE “THE ROCK” JOHNSON
-SPOTLIGHT ON LOCATION AND THE MAKING OF
-STORYBOARD TO FINAL FILM COMPARISON
 
The Pledge
 
Shogun Assassin, Vol. 5: Cold Road to Hell
 
Toxic
 
ANIME
 
Gurren Lagann 01 Special Edition
 
Gurren Lagann 01
 
Yu Yu Hakusho: Season One Box Set
 
CARTOONS
 
Batman - Gotham Knight (Single-Disc Edition)
-Commentaries
-Wonder Woman Exclusive Sneak Peek
 
Batman - Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
-Commentaries
-Wonder Woman Exclusive Sneak Peek
-Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story
-A Mirror for the Bat: Exploring the Evil Denizens of Gotham City
-Four Batman Animated Series Episodes
 
Batman - Gotham Knight [Blu-ray]
 
The Batman - The Complete Fifth Season
-2-disc collection contains 13 action-packed episodes
-The Batman: Justice League Profiles
-Joining Forces: The Batman’s Legendary Team-Ups
 
Betty Boop
 
Shaggy and Scooby Doo Get a Clue, Vol. 2
 
Teen Titans - The Complete Fifth Season
 
COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style
 
Superhero Movie Extended Edition
 
Superhero Movie
 
Criterion Collection
 
Mon Oncle Antoine - Criterion Collection
-New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director of photography Michel Brault
-On-Screen: "Mon oncle Antoine," a 2007 documentary
-Claude Jutra: An Unfinished Story-
-A Chairy Tale, a 1957 experimental short codirected by Jutra and Norman McLaren
-Theatrical trailer
-Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
-New and improved English subtitle translation
 
HORROR
 
American Zombie
 
Bone Eater
 
Death Of A Ghost Hunter
 
Death on Demand
 
Fist of the Vampire
 
The House On Haunted Hill
 
Hybrid
 
Jekyll
 
The Mummy (Universal Legacy Series)
-MUMMY DEAREST: A HORROR TRADITION UNEARTHED documentary
-HE WHO MADE THE MONSTERS: THE LIFE AND ART OF JACK PIERCE
-UNRAVELING THE LEGACY OF THE MUMMY
-UNIVERSAL HORROR: documentary, narrated by Kenneth Branagh
-Multiple commentary tracks, posters, stills and trailers
-Movie Cash to The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
 
Philosophy of a Knife Limited Edition
 
Philosophy of a Knife
 
The Ruins (Unrated Edition)
 
The Ruins
 
Survive This!
 
Van Helsing (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
-BLOOPERS
-EXLPORE DRACULA’S CASTLE - 360 degree self-guided tour
-BRINGING THE MONSTERS TO LIFE
-YOU ARE IN THE MOVIE!
-THE LEGEND OF VAN HELSING -
-COMMENTARIES
-THEATRICAL TRAILER
-SUPER BOWL™ SPOT
-VAN HELSING X-BOX GAME PREVIEW
 
Witches Night
 
The Zombie Apocalypse Collection: Featuring SCREAM FARM
 
SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY
 
Journey to the Center of the Earth
 
The Man with X-Ray Eyes
 
TV LAND
 
Fastlane - The Complete Series
 
I Dream of Jeannie - The Complete Fifth Season
 
Monk - Season Six
 
Psych - The Complete Second Season
 
The Ray Bradbury Theater
 
Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Fourth Season
-Continuum Trailer
-Ark of Truth Trailer
-Multiple Commentaries
-A New Leader: Amanda Tapping Joins Atlantis
-Photo Galleries and Production Design Gallery
 
X-Files Revelations
-Full frame (5 episodes) and widescreen format (3 episodes),
-Episodes include: Pilot, Beyond the Sea, The Host, Clyde Bruckmans Final Repose, Memento Mori, Post-Modern Prometheus, Bad Blood, Milagro
-2008 theatrical trailer
-WonderCon talent panel session
 
BOX SETS
 
Left Behind: DVD Collection

More Content By Robert T. Trate
DVD Review of Psycho - Special Edition
(Tuesday, October 7, 2008)
DVD Shopping Bag: Facing the Faces of Death
(Tuesday, October 7, 2008)
Toy Maniac: Guns, Gadgets and Giganta for Halloween
(Thursday, October 2, 2008)
DVD Review of Beetlejuice: Deluxe Edition
(Wednesday, October 1, 2008)
DVD Shopping Bag: Munster Memories
(Tuesday, September 30, 2008)
DVD Review of Speed Racer
(Monday, September 29, 2008)
DVD Review of Torchwood: The Complete Second Season
(Friday, September 26, 2008)
Toy Maniac: Toy Helmets for Halloween
(Thursday, September 25, 2008)
DVD Review of Blood Sucking Cinema
(Tuesday, September 23, 2008)
DVD Shopping Bag: Great Pumpkin Issues
(Tuesday, September 23, 2008)
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Comments/Responses
1
redhairs99 • Jul 08, 2008, 05:05pm •
I just watched Gotham Night and for the most part it was pretty decent. The first 15 minutes were horrible though. As long as you can make it through that, the movie is worth a look.

After watching the DVD, though, I'm actually looking forward to the Wonder Woman animated movie. It looks promising. I just hope they can make the story interesting enough for a 75 minute film. I've never been the biggest fan of the character other than when she was in the recent JL and JLA shows.

hanso • Jul 08, 2008, 06:27pm •
So you owe $1200 on your car? That's about what it takes to get a blu ray player and a good 32" LCD HDTV. Payoff your car then, you are almost there.

I haven't noticed a big difference on 2D animation when it's on Blu Ray or DVD, so I wouldn't go for the Blu Ray version. If it's 3d then sure.

Wonder Woman does look promising, I didn't know Alfred Molina would be in that, cool. Long way till spring 2009 though.

I love Batman, as you may have noticed :), but I'm not buying this. I saw it and it wasn't that great, although I'm not big on anime so I'm sure that influenced. Some of the stories were weak, I agree with redairs, the beginning was lame. I would've preferred a movie instead of a compilation of stories by different artist. The Killer Croc/Scarecrow and DeadShot ones were the coolest.

I thought this movie would bridge the gap between Begins and Dark Knight but I didn't get that feeling after watching it. They touched on somethings I'm sure we'll see in the movie, like the Wayne satellite and the Major Crime Unit cops Allen & Ramirez, but that's about it.

PS. Batman The Animated Series is selling for $17 on Amazon.

scytheofluna • Jul 09, 2008, 06:18am •
Screw the blu ray player, buy a PS3 and kill two birds with one stone, since the PS3 is probably the same price as a regular player anyway. I've had mine since September though and have yet to buy a blu ray disc. It's not so bad with Gotham Knight, but in Canada blu ray discs are 30 bucks apiece. I'm a sucker for fancy packaging and collectible swag, and Batman Begins is the first blu ray set to really have any of that. Guess what my first blu ray movie is going to be.

PREDATOR • Jul 09, 2008, 09:52am •
hanso, i'm totally pissed at you now you talk all this shit about your ps3 and i can't even find a job cause i have a felony charge..

damn it i want a ps3. how is GTA 4.

but soon i will have a job then i won't be mad anymore.. plus The Dark Knight will soon be out and i can't watch that numerous times to pass the time

Pendragon0 • Jul 09, 2008, 10:40am •
I'm agreeing with Redhair on this one. I'm not a huge fan of anime to begin with, except for a few things, but that first segement was horrendous. The rest of it is pretty good, especially the part that looks like it was done by Mike Mignola. The stories were pretty good, fans of the original series should be able to tell which one is Alan Burnett's. The thing I love about this DVD is that finally, finally, FINALLY we've got KEVIN CONROY doing an audio commentary! I'm buying the dvd (I rented it first, see above comments regarding anime) just on the basis of that.

redhairs99 • Jul 09, 2008, 12:31pm •
Hanso, Thanks for the tip on the Amazon.com special. Just bought all 4 seasons, the animated movie box set, and Mystery of Catwoman animated movie...all for less than $90!!

joeybaloney • Jul 09, 2008, 02:03pm •
PRED I feel your pain! If you’re pissed at hanso do yourself a favor and don’t talk to scytheofluna. That sumbitch has two Xbox360 & a PS3 PLUS his wife gets on the other Xbox and plays with him. Some people got the life!

Want me the PS3 real bad myself. My brother's got one though and GTA4 is great, from what I've played, which isn't really any of the missions. Just driving around shooting people and paying for sex. Man that takes me back.

SOCOM is gonna be where it's at though. Must have PS3 by September!!!

Nice score redhairs. Watch out with season one. They’re on the disc in production order and not actual continuity.

Gonna try and get me Gotham Knights tonight!!

RaithManan • Jul 09, 2008, 06:22pm •
I bought GOTHAM KNIGHT and was pretty solid for the most part. The first segment, "Have I Gotta Story to Tell You" was basically a redone edition of the episode "Legends of the Dark Knight" from BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (WHICH IS ONE THE 4 EPISODES PICKED BY BRUCE TIMM ON DISC-2) where kids had their different perspectives about who or what BATMAN is. But I wasn't too keen on the animation in that sequence, but the other sequences drawn were good and I don't have problems with anime when its straight-forward and attention to detail is generally astounding. But I don't like anime when it comes to GIGANTIC EYEBALLS BULGING OUT LIKE UFO's, UNSURREALISTIC FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, CHARACTERS SUDDENLY DEVELOPING RAZOR SHARP TEETH WHEN YELLING AND FUCKED UP TRANSFORMERS DRAWN LIKE TEEN TITANS IN ROBOT SUITS...when people say they don't like anime, its probably because when they see Pokemon, Dragonball-Z, etc...the style tends to get blackballed because much of it is drawn way too kiddie-like, and that's what is commonly seen on tv on a daily basis. But then when its taken seriously like AKIRA, GHOST IN THE SHELL or APPLESEED, then its not too big of an issue. Plus anime is not all done by japanese as other countries including the States adopted the style (ANIME WANNABES) over the years and went away from the art-deco approach...though Disney still does their own style. Another reason animation on tv comes of as less-inspired in this age is because animators think that it shaves off time when developing episodes. Notice back in the 80's when episodes would look good one day and pretty shitty the next because of the time they needed to get them done and often times would run out of order because they weren't getting them done fast enough, plus trying to do an order of 39 to 60 shows in a season was no easy feat back then. So today's standards is more about puncutatlity and less attention to detail which at times leads to half-assed drawing. While I don't draw as much today as I used to in my youth, I still do things in detail, a style I haven't changed.

hanso • Jul 09, 2008, 06:49pm •
Why you mad at me Pred, I talk shit about my PS3 cause it's giving me some damn problems lately. Freezing up on me, might cost me $150 to get Sony to repair it. I only speak the truth about my particular console :)

Felony charge? Man u lucky you ain't in jail with all the hunting you always doing. Must have the po po yelling 187 everytime you stop by.

Good luck on your job search and only 9 days till Dark Knight, that always helps!

1
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